Method to represent images for dissociative stereoscopic vision and related system

Abstract

The following is a method to represent images for dissociative stereoscopic vision, which allows, by means of some simple operations on stereoscopic images, to develop a device comprising a processing card and LCD shuttering goggles, which together with a computer equipped with a graphic card with LVDS output and any image display device, enable to perform visual acuity tests on patients.

1. A method to represent images for dissociative stereoscopic vision, comprising the following steps:
 a. fetching right and left images for stereoscopic vision; 
 b. suppressing even columns for one of the two images and odd columns for the other image; 
 c. fusing images derived from step b in order to create one single image made up of alternating columns belonging to the two images, so that the odd columns precisely belong to the first image and the even columns precisely belong to the second image; 
 d. splitting the image obtained step c into the two images obtained in step b; 
 e. filling a generic empty column i with data contained in column i+1, or as an alternative with data contained in column i−1, for both images obtained in step d; 
 f. alternately showing the two images obtained in step e, on a video at high frequency, synchronously blanking right and left lenses worn by a patient, so that a right eye always sees a first image, and a left eye always sees a second image, or vice versa. 
 
     
     
       2. An image representation system for dissociative stereoscopic vision suitable to perform the method of  claim 1 , comprising the following features:
 a clock unit, which spells out a synchronization time between an image processor and goggles worn by the patient, said clock unit equipped with a communication system to deliver timing data to the goggles; 
 an image processing card, which at each clock event, in line with steps e and f of the method of  claim 1 , shows a video alternating one of the two images obtained by duplicating the missing columns, starting from the adjacent previous or next one; and, 
 a pair of goggles with liquid crystal lenses equipped with a communication system, and with an alternate high-frequency shutter system for the lenses. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the steps a, b and c is run on a computer having a computer program which includes encryption means to implement the steps a, b, and c. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the steps a, b and c is run on a computer having a computer readable means which includes a recorded message and a computer program which includes encryption means to perform the steps a, b, and c.